Is He passing by?
Abraham sat relaxing in the entrance to his tent trying to enjoy the shade and the breeze all at the same time. When he spotted a traveler, he ran to meet the group and invited them in to have a bite to eat. After the guests ate the fine meal their host had prepared, they began to talk. It turned out that this was the Lord Himself whom Abraham had invited into his life (Genesis 18).
The Lord moves throughout the whole earth, seeking those who live for Him and want Him in their lives. Is He passing by you, or are you inviting Him in? I want the Lord to feel welcome inside the doors of my heart. I hope to interrupt His travels and make sure He stays with me.
Preparing a feast
What attracts the Lord to linger around you? Make Him welcome. Positive words help Him settle in. Speaking about the good things He is doing in your life will draw Him into your world. Telling Him what you know about His greatness, mercy, and love will make Him comfortable around you, too. Praise and worship invite the Lord in.
The nice thing about making God feel at home is that He will talk to you and listen to what you have to say as well. Abraham got inside information about his own future, about things that would happen in his neighborhood, and more, just because he invited this guest into his life. Not only that, but this Guest then listened to Abraham’s request and promised to do as he asked.
As the musicians come, I remember an old chorus that says,
Reach out and touch the Lord,
As He passes by;
You will find He’s not too busy
To hear your heart’s cry;
He’s passing by this moment,
Your needs to supply:
Reach out and touch the Lord
As He goes by.
More than a guest
Of course, I want the Lord to dwell in me and I want to dwell in His presence. I make sure He knows He is welcome to stay every morning by putting on a feast of prayer to Him. I slice out some bread of the Word so that I can feast with Him and make sure I am serving up a life that suits His palate.
The Lord has promised to live in us and dwell with us. We have to open the door. Our character, thoughts, words, and actions let Him know how long He can stay. I do not want to do anything to run Him off. As the scripture says, “Don’t give God’s Holy Spirit any reason to be upset with you.” (Ephesians 4:30, NET). I want my words to edify others and allow the Spirit to continue residing in me every day.